The Kerala High Court has initiated a Suo Motu case to address the troubling issue of police violence against lawyers in the state.
This action follows a recent incident where an Advocate, Gopakumar Pandavath, was reportedly attacked by police officers within the premises of the Ramankary Magistrate Court in Alappuzha on September 9.
The case came to the court’s attention after the Kerala High Court Advocates’ Association (KHCAA) wrote a formal complaint to Acting Chief Justice A Muhamed Mustaque, urging him to take appropriate action. The KHCAA also presented the letter to a Division Bench consisting of Justice AK Jayasankaran Nambiar and Justice Syam Kumar VM. The said Bench passed an order on September 10, inter alia noting that “We also believe the time has now come for us to issue directions with regard to the protocols/guidelines that have to be adhered to by Police Officials when interacting with lawyers, Judges and staff of the various courts in the State”.
India: Kerala High Court Registers Suo Motu Case Regarding Violence By Police Against Lawyers
